Method and System for Preventing Unreliable Data Operations at Cold Temperatures

• US 20140078611A1
• Filed: 09/20/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Powell, Clinton Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,922,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/73.03
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/046 Detection or prevention or problems due to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1406 Reducing the influence of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5547 "Seek" control and circuits therefor G11B5/5556 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5565 system adaptation for compensation of variations of physical parameters, e.g. temperature

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with protecting data during cold excursions are provided. A method for preventing unreliable data operations at cold temperatures may include determining whether a first internal temperature of a hard disk drive (HDD) is below a threshold temperature. The method may also include initiating an artificial seek operation if the first internal temperature is below the threshold temperature.

Claims

1. A method for preventing unreliable data operations at cold temperatures comprising:

determining whether a first internal temperature of a hard disk drive (HDD) is below a threshold temperature; and

initiating an artificial seek operation if the first internal temperature is below the threshold temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sampling a second internal temperature of the HDD following a pre-defined time interval.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising pausing a read/write operation if the second internal temperature of the HDD is below the threshold temperature.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising proceeding with the read/write operation if the second internal temperature of the HDD is above the threshold temperature.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising spinning the HDD up to a target revolutions per minute (RPM).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the artificial seek operation comprises one of a random seek, a butterfly seek, a ⅓

stroke seek, and a sequential seek.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold temperature is provided by a user.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-defined time interval is substantially based on an event.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-defined time interval is provided by a user.

10. A hard disk drive (HDD) comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to transmit a signal corresponding to a first internal temperature; and

a component configured to perform an artificial seek operation if the signal indicates that the first internal temperature is below a threshold temperature.

11. The HDD of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor is further configured to transmit a second internal temperature following a pre-defined time interval.

12. The HDD of claim 11, further comprising a second component configured to pause a read/write operation if the second internal temperature of the HDD is below the threshold temperature.

13. The HDD of claim 12, wherein the second component is further configured to proceed with the read/write operation if the second internal temperature of the HDD is above the threshold temperature.

14. The HDD of claim 10, further comprising a third component configured to spin the HDD up to a target revolutions per minute (RPM).

15. The HDD of claim 10, wherein the artificial seek operation comprises one of a random seek, a butterfly seek, a ⅓

stroke seek, and a sequential seek.

16. The HDD of claim 10, wherein the threshold temperature is provided by a user.

17. The HDD of claim 11, wherein the pre-defined time interval is substantially based on an event.

18. The HDD of claim 11, wherein the pre-defined time interval is provided by a user.

19. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a hard disk drive (HDD) communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and having stored thereon instructions configured to, when executed by the processor;

determine whether a first internal temperature of the HDD is below a threshold temperature; and

initiate an artificial seek operation if the first internal temperature is below the threshold temperature.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions are further configured to sample a second internal temperature of the HDD following a pre-defined time interval.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further configured to pause a read/write operation if the second internal temperature of the HDD is below the threshold temperature.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions are further configured to proceed with the read/write operation if the second internal temperature of the HDD is above the threshold temperature.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions are further configured to spin the HDD up to a target revolutions per minute (RPM).

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the artificial seek operation comprises one of a random seek, a butterfly seek, a ⅓

stroke seek, and a sequential seek.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the threshold temperature is provided by a user.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the pre-defined time interval is substantially based on an event.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the pre-defined time interval is provided by a user.